Browsing Category: Life

St. Patrick’s Day Drink recipes

When we were kids, St. Patrick’s Day was all about not forgetting to wear green to school or spend the majority of your day combating classmates from pinching you from the seasonal fashion faux pas. Now, as adults, the only thing most of think about is trying to dip out of work early to partake in (if you’re lucky) your local pub crawl. I’ve only participated in a few pub crawls in my life and mostly in college, but they are pretty fun, if I do say so myself.

However, since St. Patty’s day is on the not drink-all-night-friendly Thursday night, it might not be the safest thing to go drinking all night. So, instead, here are some festival green drink recipes (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that you can make and enjoy in the comforts of your home.

Check out these ideas for St. Patrick’s Day drink recipes.

luck-of-irish-smoothie

You can never go wrong buy starting your day with a green juice, so St. Patty’s day is no different. Here’s the green juice that I’ve been making for the past couple of weeks and it’s amazing!

skinny-shamrock-shake-skinny-taste

One of my guiltiest pleasures around this time of year is indulging with a Shamrock Shake from McDs, which is pretty much a vanilla milk shake with mint flavor extract. However, since I recently cut out eating fast food as much as possible and  desire healthier option, Skinny Taste skinny(er) shamrock shake is right on target for me. Replacing calorie rich vanilla ice cream with frozen vanilla yogurt and avocado for creamier texture sounds amazing. I’m trying this recipe tonight!

pizzazzeris-mojito-sherbet-punch-st-patricks-day-recipe

Looking for something refreshing for small group of people, then this Mojito Sherbet punch might do the trick. This punch combines mojito mix, lime sherbet (sounds lovely), and rum, to name a few delicious ingredients. I suggest you bookmark this recipe for future summer shindigs, because this would be perfect.

honey-dew-nojitos

Mojitos sound great, but not everyone is keen to alcoholic drinks during the work week. So, this non-alcoholic recipe for Honeydew basil nojitos, will sure to be a crowd (or solo) favorite. Light and refreshing for all.

Irish Coffee-girl chef

Irish coffee is a stronger option that combines irish whiskey, fresh brewed coffee, brown sugar, and heavy. Wow! Sounds intense and intriguing to try.

Remember, enjoy your night and get home safe by respecting the drinking age in your country and not driving under the influence. Call Uber!

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Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

seasonal fruits and vegetables

I’ve always been one of those people that partakes in healthier eating by eating more fruits and vegetables in the warmer months. However, since I recently been paying more attention to what foods I eat, I not only eat more fruits and veggies, but those that are in season. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are not only healthier, but are fresher and tastier.

This past weekend, I watched the documentary Food Inc., which is about the I haven’t watched in years. However, it bigger impact on the healthier me of today than it did on the me of then who probably watched it while eating a bag of Cheetos. I’m embarrassed.

Food Inc. shined a light on how we get our food and the impact it has made over the year. To help improve the quality of foods we consume, one of the suggestions they gave was to eat fruits and vegetables that were organic, locally grown (if possible), and in season. Seasonal fruits and veggies are less likely to be chemically manipulated and genetically modified (GMO).

In case you haven’t noticed, when every season change so does the selection of fresh foods in your local grocery store. There are some foods such as apples, bananas, carrots, and celery are in season all year. However, most food has time frame when it’s the freshest and healthiest. No only are in season foods fresher and healthier, but are also easier to find and buy. Therefore, they are usually way less expensive than foods not in season. Fresher, healthier, and cheaper. What other reason could you want to get you to focus more on in season foods.

POPULAR SEASONAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:

WINTER:

  • Bananas
  • Beets
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Grapefruit
  • Kale
  • Lemons
  • Onions
  • Pears
  • Pineapples
  • Potato
  • Pumpkin
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Yams
  • Turnips

SPRING:

  • Apricots
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Collard Greens
  • Garlic
  • Lettuce
  • Mushrooms
  • Peas
  • Pineapples
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries

SUMMER:

  • Apricots
  • Bananas
  • Beets
  • Bell Peppers
  • Blackberries
  • Carrots
  • Cherries
  • Collard Greens
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplants
  • Green Beans
  • Mango
  • Okra
  • Peaches
  • Nectarines
  • Tomatoes
  • Watermelon

FALL:

  • Bell Peppers
  • Cauliflower
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Grapes
  • Kale
  • Parsnips
  • Pears
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkin
  • Radishes
  • Raspberries
  • Spinach

For more information on which foods are in season each season, check out www.EatTheSeasons.com

 

 

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Ways I’ve Learned to Relax At Work

For the past few months I’ve been experimenting with things and actions that help me; mentally, physically, and emotionally. As a person who has mild anxiety, I’m always looking to embrace actions that can help me relax and focus. One of the main places I need these actions the most is at work.

My career isn’t very fast-paced and nor does it require me to always be on the go. Actually, my responsibilities are pretty lax for the majority of the time. However, there are a few moments in the week when an unexpected assignment falls into my lap and/or inbox that requires my attention ASAP. As a person who works with well order and preparation, these impromptu stress sessions can be strenuously overwhelming.

Unfortunately, drinking water, deep breaths, and quick yoga stretches at my desk can only do so much. Therefore, I’ve created an arsenal of tactics that I use on the regular to help me relax at work and wanted to share them in case one of you find yourself a little stressed out at work, too.

Proper Planning

I’m an avid support of making lists. It’s probably one of the easiest ways you can stay organized and less stressed out about daily tasks. About an hour before I leave each day, I wrap what ever I’m working on prepare for the next work day.

I also clean up my desk area by making sure everything is nicely stacked and back in it’s rightful place. This also includes taking my coffee mug and water bottle to the kitchen to clean.

The objective of doing all of this is so that when the next time I come to work, I can ease myself back into what I was working on the previous workday and without feeling too overwhelmed. Plus, who wants to arrive to an unorganized mess? Not me.

Reading Breaks

current-reads-to-relax-at-work-february-2016

To help me with my desire to finish reading more books in 2016, I decided that it would be a great idea to keep a couple of books on my desk to read while eating my lunch or whenever I have a small window of nothing to do. However, it has also formed into a way for me to take a break when I’m feeling overwhelmed or unmotivated. Since those can be two very different feelings, I keep a couple of reading options on my desk; a funny, quick read to help relax me and a book to help inspire me on some level.

Currently, the 2 books on my desk are 1 Page At A Time by Adam J. Kurtz and The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. 1 Page At A Time is more of an activity book than a traditional book that you read. It  designed as daily companion for creatives and features random activities and tasks to help enhance your creative flow, which is why I use it whenever I feel uninspired to write and/or create content.

Get Up

When your 9-5 consists of you mainly sitting for 6-8 a day, then any movement is appreciated. Usually when I’m stressing over trying to finish a project or feel  myself sinking into the abyss of emails, I get up and take a brisk walk from the desk. Usually, I take a bathroom break, go the kitchen area to refill my water bottle, and/or stop by another co-workers office for a quick chat (preferably not work-related). I’m usually back to my desk within a 15-20 minutes and just a little more refreshed and productive.

Fresh Air

I’m one of those people that rarely leaves the office building on my work days, mainly because I don’t have a reason to leave. My office building has a general-style store and restaurant in the lobby. There’s even a branch to the bank that I bank at in the lobby. So, I rarely need to leave through the day. However, there are moments when I know that I need to get away from not only my desk, but the whole office environment. Therefore, I might take a 10 minute walk to Whole Foods for a juice, walk to the nail shop for a mani, or even just go sit in the partial stairwell of the parking garage to play Candy Crush. Just anything to get some fresh air to help clear my mind and de-stress me and this works wonders.

Do you have any ways you relax at work? If so, please share, because you can never know too many.

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My Quick and Easy Money Saving Tips

First thing first, I’m not a financial expert. Actually, I’m, the furthest thing from and I’ve had past credit reports to prove it.

However, over the past year or so, I’ve been making strong efforts on not only improving my credit, but also just saving more money, in general.

Since we are in the midst of income tax return season, some of you might have received you return money and don’t have any idea what to do with it..other than spend it. So, I thought this would be a good time to share some of my favorite quick and easy tips for saving money.

Savings Account

If you want to save money, one of the first things you need to do is open a savings account. You wouldn’t believe how many people don’t have a savings account. Once you open a savings account, you will have a safe and convenient spot to place and save money.

However, there are some things to keep in mind when opening your savings account. Compare interest rates for your savings account for an high interest account. The monthly interest might seem like chump change, but the more you save and get in the long run. There are also various tax advantages go along with savings accounts, as well as a number of free tax calcs to alleviate some of the tedious complications often associated with taxes.

A plus about savings accounts, is that if you open them at the same bank as your checking account, they can be synced together. You will have the ease of transferring money from one account to the next.

Unfortunately, this can also be a hinder to some, because just as easy as it is to move money to your savings account, it can be just as easy to move money from your savings to your checking. This was an issue that I was initially having when trying to save and keep money in my savings. With the ultra convenience of my online banking app, I could and would move money back and forth between accounts. I would nothing to show except an ridiculously high fee, because my bank would charge for transactions from my savings.

So, I decided to open an account at a different credit union. Therefore, I wouldn’t be easy to get the money. This small move has helped my increase my savings tremendously.

Cut Expenses

One of the hardest things I had to learn how to do was assess where I was spending my money. Here I was thinking that just buying a tall caramel macchiato instead of a venti was being financially responsible. Instead, you multiple  $3.75 (price of tall caramel macchiato) by 5 (times a week) and you will quickly realize that you are spending almost $1000 a year on something that you finish drinking before you pull into the parking garage at your job.

Once you’ve assessed all of your expenses, you might realize that you can save quite a bit of money with just a few minor spending changes. Cut back on the trips to Starbucks, eliminate cable, and cancelling one or two premium streaming services and you will notice just how much more money you have to put into your savings account.

At the end of the year, you will be quite pleased and estatic about having an extra grand in your account just by simple making your coffee at home before heading to work.

Create Additional Income

It’s been said that the average millionaire generates at least 7 sources of income. Imagine just what one additional source can do for us typical people who would just like a little extra to have for a rainy day  or yearly family vacation.

In today’s world of online businesses and constant need to for various services, you can generate extra income by simple selling items you no longer use around the house on ebay, sign up to be a part-time Uber driver, or even create your own online shop selling teas or what ever you have a knack for creating.

 

Do you have any tips you use to save extra money?

 

 

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Indoor Neon Signs

Neon lights are so cool, especially when incorporated indoors. Indoor neon signs and light can add a completely different vibe that’s chill, but also bright and fun. The use of neon lights as lighting options is very unexpected way to add some personality and interest to your living space.

I initially only thought that neon signs in the home would work primarily in the living rooms and bedrooms. However, I’ve seen some images of neon signs being used in dining rooms and even bathrooms that look amazing.

Personally, I would like a a neon signage with text. However, I’ve seen some simple designs and shapes that have peaked my interest. Currently, I would love to find a large sun neon sign to hang over the sofa in my living room and maybe some clouds and a couple of stars to hang over the bed in my bedroom.

I found some indoor neon signs for inspirations.

neon-lights-dining-area neon-light-hi-green-plant neon-sign-you-only-live-once

clouds-neon-signs

square-neon-light

Suggestions:

indoor-neon-signs-lights-stained-couture

  • Anchor Neon Light -This is perfect if you’re looking to test the neon light look in your home. Very affordable and not too distracting.
  • ‘Love’ Neon Sign – You fit this into any room. Would work awesomely in a girly bedroom.
  • Neon Art Letters and Numbers – Create your own phrase. Personalization is always in style.
  • Peace Neon Sign – Another sign that you can anywhere. Wouldn’t this look so cool displayed next to a door? Peace out!

 

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